Scammers are using fake copyright claims to extort money from Instagram users, with one creator paying out $50 to regain their account. While Meta claims to have added protections, creators say the process is flawed and slow.

The Lost in Time History account, with 1.5 million followers, has faced numerous fake claims, with the creator paying ransoms to get their posts back. Meta does not verify the authenticity of complaints, leaving creators at the mercy of scammers.

Other creators, like Abin Tom Sebastian, faced similar issues, with Meta not providing much support. The monthly £9.99 fee for verified status includes 24/7 live chat support, but many creators find the process unsatisfactory. Meta promises to prevent such issues in the future, but the damage is done.

Despite claims from some scammers that they file legitimate claims, experts say it’s hard to distinguish between legitimate and fake claims. The rise of these scams highlights the complexity of copyright laws and the challenges in protecting content online.

These scams are not new, dating back to the early days of the internet. However, social media platforms have become a fertile ground for this type of fraud, with creators facing repeated and costly legal threats.